Tell Those Who Mourn

“…tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” – Isaiah 61: 3

My heart aches as I write this post. I just got news that a friend of the family lost her husband. He had fallen down a flight of stairs and hit his head. He went to sleep and never woke up again. He was in a coma for more than 9 days. He leaves behind his wife and three small children.

I can’t imagine the terrible anguish that she must be experiencing from losing the love of her life and the father of all her children. There must be a terrible hole in her heart. While I do not know the pain that this young mother is experiencing, I do know what it is to lose someone you love with all of your heart. I lost my mother when I was just sixteen years old. I was devastated and lost. My world was upside down. I did not know what would become of me. But God did!

Over the past almost two weeks, as I awaited the daily text updates on this young father’s progress, I have been mediating on suffering. I have been thinking about how people suffer so much in this fallen world and how we will all continue to experience suffering until the end of this world. There will continue to be famine, earthquakes, tsunamis, death, sickness, diseases, and sorrow for as long as we are here. Thank goodness for us believers that our God has a new heaven and new earth for us where there will be no more suffering. (Rev. 21:1, Is. 65:17) Our God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone FOREVER!! Thank you Jesus! I can’t wait!! (Rev. 21:4)

Until then we must encourage one another and NOT LOSE HOPE. We must remember that our Lord is still in control no matter what we or anyone else we know is facing. He was in control when Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He was in control when the Hebrew girl Hadassah, better known as Queen Esther, was taken without a choice to the king’s harem. He was in control when three Hebrew boys were thrown into a furnace alive. He was in control when Lazarus died. He was in control when my mother died. He was in control when our innocent Savior Jesus died a brutal death for all of our sins.

We may not always understand why He allows certain bad things to happen in our lives, but our God can certainly take situations that seem like that are meant to destroy us and turn it for our good. (Gen. 50:20) Let us not allow the suffering that we will experience to harden our hearts against our God. He has not left or forsaken us in this world. He warned us that we would have many sorrows and troubles in this world. But He also reminds us that He HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD. (John 16:33) In our times of utter distress let us cry out to God and confess our brokenness. Let us cry out for His strength. Let us confess just as Paul did,

“ I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” ( Phil. 4:13 Amplified Bible)

It will be by His strength and His Spirit, not by our own might that we will overcome the traumatic trials that we will face here on this earth. We are not alone! His Spirit comforts us in all of our troubles. Then one day when someone else is going through troubles, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

In our times of sorrow and despair we must hold on with eager hope to the promises, that one day, in glorious freedom we will be redeemed from death and decay. Let us be encouraged knowing that what we suffer now is NOTHING COMPARED TO THE GLORY He will reveal to us later. (Romans 8:18-22)

Please pray for this sister, her children and her family.